Daniel stared at the date.
Three years and two months earlier.
Two months before Margaret died.
His mouth went dry.
Karen had volunteered at his mother’s hospital.
He searched again.
Another newsletter.
Family Support Services volunteer.
Another.
Patient hospitality.
No clinical role.
No authority over medication.
But access.
Hallways.
Rooms.
Families.
Daniel saved every page.
Then he searched old messages.
His phone still held texts from the week Margaret died.
One from his sister, Rebecca.
Some weird volunteer keeps hovering around Mom’s room.
Daniel had replied:
What volunteer?
Rebecca:
Heavy woman, dark hair. Says she’s helping families. Mom doesn't like her.
He had forgotten.
Completely.
Because at the time it seemed irrelevant.
Daniel called Rebecca.
She answered on the fourth ring.
“You okay?”
“No.”
That woke her.
“What happened?”
“Do you remember a volunteer around Mom’s room?”
Silence.
Then:
“What?”
“The week she died.”
Rebecca took a breath.
“Why are you asking?”
“Do you remember her?”
“Kind of.”
“What did she look like?”
“Daniel, it was three years ago.”
“Please.”
His sister became quiet.
“Big woman.”
“Yes.”
“Dark hair.”
“Yes.”
“Loud.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Anything else?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“She wore ridiculous sunglasses.”
“What color?”
Long silence.
“Purple.”
Daniel sat down.
Rebecca heard him breathing.
“What is happening?”
“The woman who lives next door.”
“What?”
“Karen.”
“What about her?”
“She volunteered at Mom’s hospital.”
Rebecca went completely silent.
Then:
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You're sure?”
“I found the newsletter.”
“Why does that matter now?”
Daniel looked toward the burned mailbox.
“Because yesterday she tried to burn a letter from that hospital.”
Rebecca said nothing.
CHAPTER 6: THE RECORDS
The hospital released the files at 11:32 the next morning.
Daniel downloaded everything.
Forty-seven pages.
He printed them.
Then sat at the kitchen table with a yellow legal pad.
Most of the records looked ordinary.
Vitals.
Medication administration.
Nursing assessments.
Then page nineteen.
NURSING ESCALATION NOTE.
Time:
7:48 p.m.
Margaret reportedly stated that a “woman from visitor services” attempted to give her pills not listed on her medication schedule.
Daniel read it again.
Attempted.
Not necessarily administered.
The nurse documented removing an unmarked paper medication cup from the bedside table.
Patient unable to identify volunteer.
Described “purple glasses.”
Daniel’s hands went cold.
Next record.
Pharmacy communication.